The rejection followed a failed attempt to postpone the vote despite deliberations still on-going over ACTA in the European Court of Justice.

David Martin MEP said: “MEPs have understood what ACTA meant and have said to the Commission this is unacceptable. We do not support the curtailment of freedom on the internet that ACTA would involve. It is now up to the European Commission to decide if they look for another treaty or they just say that’s it, finished”.

But while ACTA may be down, it certainly does not seem to be completely out with the European Commission threatening to revive the unpopular trade treaty.

EU Commissioner for Inter-institutional Relations and Administration Maros Sefcovic said: ‘‘The Commission will maintain its request to the European Court of Justice for an opinion on whether ACTA is compatible with the treaties and in particular with the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union.”

The Commission has indicated it will now speak to other countries, which have signed up to ACTA, together with the European Parliament to try to find a way forward.